Baylor quidditch — yes, quidditch — ranked No. 11 in the country

Yes, quidditch — the sport created for J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter books and movies — has been carried over into a real game played by “muggles” (people without magical abilities, in Potter-speak). The International Quidditch Association has an entire rulebook and oversees approximately 1,000 teams across the world, including clubs at universities such as USC, Texas, LSU and Harvard.

Baylor junior Stuart Miller, one of more than 25 students who make up the Baylor Quidditch Association, describes the version played by teams like BU’s as “a combination of dodge ball, rugby, track and lacrosse.” The Bears practice twice a week during the season in Minglewood Bowl (just outside Brooks); tryouts for the spring squad will be held early next semester. [Click here to see video of Baylor quidditch in action against UT.]